11 February: International Day of Women and Girls in Science

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Sometimes a problem can be solved by looking at it from a different angle. A fresh pair of eyes from a person with a different mind-set might be all it takes.

Technology and science are about creating and improving the world in which we live in, and if the creators are of a single gender then the chances are that they will not be able to create a product that understands 100% of its consumers. Having a balance of male and female input into product development can often enhance this process, with a more solidified outcome as a result.

People of different gender, background and nationalities see things with their own pair of eyes. Within the academic world this is often referred to as cognition the mental process of knowing, perceiving, etc.

Cognitive development is the construction of thought processes, including remembering, problem solving, and decision-making, from childhood through adolescence to adulthood. Therefore, getting an equal amount of men and women working in science, tech or any field, will no doubt help secure a broader scientific approach.

Sunday the 11 of February was officially The International Day of Women and Girls in Science. The day was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly to promote full and equal access to and participation in science for females of all ages. This day is a reminder that women and girls play a critical role in science and technology communities and that their participation should be universally encouraged.

It is not just the UN making a difference, many good initiatives are popping up everywhere. In Sweden Pink Programming was founded in 2015 to encourages females to get into programming.

“We want to create an inspiring environment where girls who are interested in programming can have fun and feel at home while learning to encode, or build on existing knowledge. We also want to highlight the female models that exist today. Therefore, our teachers and inspirational speakers are women who themselves work as developers. Pink Programming is aimed at both experienced developers and brand new encoder” says the team behind Pink Programming.

Numbers on gender diversity

United Nations General Assembly felt it was necessary to act, and adopted resolution A/RES/70/212 declaring 11 February as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

Having started in 2015, the recent fourth instalment of this event has now attracted the support of over 68 countries, and will continue to grow annually as global awareness increases. The tech and science industries will only benefit from this, and the value of female input will ensure the future success of businesses worldwide.